Back-row O’Brien currently plays her club rugby in the South of France with Toulouse.

Originally from Chruchtown, North Cork, she began her rugby career at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh while studying physiotherapy. Following her move back to Ireland she played with Boyne RFC in Drogheda before relocating to Cork and playing with Highfield.

Heather was part of the Grand Slam winning side of 2013, the World Cup squad in 2014 and won her second Six Nations medal in 2015.